US5016845A - Infant feeding assembly - Google Patents

Infant feeding assembly Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US5016845A
US5016845A US07/460,245 US46024590A US5016845A US 5016845 A US5016845 A US 5016845A US 46024590 A US46024590 A US 46024590A US 5016845 A US5016845 A US 5016845A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
infant feeding
container
weight
infant
spring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US07/460,245
Inventor
Wendy M. Pellegrino
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US07/460,245 priority Critical patent/US5016845A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US5016845A publication Critical patent/US5016845A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61JCONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J9/00Feeding-bottles in general
    • A61J9/06Holders for bottles
    • A61J9/0653Holders for bottles characterised by the type of support
    • A61J9/0661Holders for bottles characterised by the type of support attachable to other devices or furniture, e.g. crib, commode or stroller
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61JCONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J9/00Feeding-bottles in general
    • A61J9/06Holders for bottles
    • A61J9/063Holders for bottles having a particular supporting function
    • A61J9/0638Holders for bottles having a particular supporting function for supporting in a feeding position
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61JCONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J9/00Feeding-bottles in general
    • A61J9/06Holders for bottles
    • A61J9/0653Holders for bottles characterised by the type of support
    • A61J9/0692Holders for bottles characterised by the type of support comprising a flexible arm
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61JCONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J9/00Feeding-bottles in general
    • A61J9/06Holders for bottles
    • A61J9/063Holders for bottles having a particular supporting function
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S248/00Supports
    • Y10S248/91Weighted base

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the general art of dispensing containers, and to the particular field of infant feeding devices.
  • an infant feeding assembly which will substantially eliminate the possibility of spilling fluid onto an infant who has finished feeding from the container and which returns to a non-spilling condition upon being released by the infant.
  • It is a main object of the present invention is to provide an infant feeding assembly which will substantially eliminate the possibility of spilling fluid onto an infant who has finished feeding from the container.
  • an infant feeding assembly which includes an infant feeding container that is mounted and weighted to return to a bottom-down orientation spaced from the infant upon being released by that infant.
  • the bottom-down orientation is established no matter how much liquid remains in the container when it is released by the infant.
  • the assembly always moves into a nonspilling, bottom-down orientation whenever the assembly is not in use.
  • This bottom-down orientation essentially eliminates the possibility that liquid will spill onto the infant when the assembly is not in use.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an infant feeding assembly embodying the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a support unit of the infant feeding assembly.
  • FIG. 3 is a cutaway side elevational view of a gooseneck assembly of the infant feeding assembly.
  • FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a strap unit of the infant feeding assembly.
  • FIG. 5 is side elevational view of an infant feeding container of the infant feeding assembly.
  • FIG. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating the infant feeding assembly in an infant-feeding orientation.
  • FIG. 7 is a side elevational view illustrating the infant feeding assembly in an intermediate orientation.
  • FIG. 8 is a side elevational view illustrating the infant feeding assembly in a bottom-down at rest orientation.
  • FIG. 1 Shown in FIG. 1 is an infant feeding assembly 10 of the present invention which is adapted to assume a bottom-down orientation upon being released by an infant whereby fluid, such as formula, milk, juice, water or the like, from the container is not likely to spill onto the infant.
  • fluid such as formula, milk, juice, water or the like
  • the infant feeding assembly 10 includes a support unit 12 which releasably mounts an infant feeding container 14 to a rail of a crib (not shown in FIG. 1) via a strap unit 16.
  • the support unit 12 is biased to twist and move the container unit into a bottom-down orientation, and the container unit is weighted to co-operate with such bias to move the container into the bottom-down orientation.
  • the support unit 12 includes a spring-loaded clamp element 20 which is adapted to be releasably mounted on the rail of a crib in which an infant is located.
  • the clamp element 20 includes a top jaw element 22 and a bottom jaw element 24 which are coupled together bY a pivot unit 26 and which are biased into a closed condition by a spring element 28.
  • the top jaw element has a planar upper surface 30 which is located inside the perimeter of the crib when the assembly 10 is in use.
  • the support unit 12 further includes a gooseneck assembly 32 which is elongate and extends from the top jaw element upper surface 30 upward therefrom.
  • the gooseneck assembly therefore includes a longitudinal centerline 34 that extends the length of the assembly from one end 36 thereof to a second end 38 thereof.
  • the gooseneck assembly is releasably mounted on the clamp element top jaw planar upper surface 30 by means of a collar 40.
  • the gooseneck assembly 32 includes a first spring element 42 that is a helical spring that has been wound to be biased to resist movement of the gooseneck assembly in a plane parallel to a plane containing the jaw top surface 30. Such bias will move the container 14 in such plane from an infant-feeding location away from that infant.
  • the gooseneck assembly further includes a second spring means 46 that includes a plurality of elongated torsion bars, such as bars 48 and 50 attached to the first spring element 42. These torsion bars are designed and attached to the spring 42 to resist twisting movement of the gooseneck about the longitudinal centerline 34. Thus, if the container assembly 14 is twisted so that the gooseneck assembly twists about the longitudinal centerline 34, the torsion bars tend to re-establish the original orientation of the container.
  • Suitable springs and torsion bars can be selected by those skilled in the art based on the teaching of the present disclosure and the general knowledge of springs found in standard textbooks such as "Design of Machine Elements” by V.M. Faires and published by the Macmillan Company in 1955, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and standard handbooks such as "Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers", Seventh Edition, edited by T. Baumeister and published by McGraw-Hill in 1967, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • a sleeve 52 is formed of plastics-type materials and is slidably fit over the first spring 42 into sliding and releasable engagement with the collar 40 on the clamp element top jaw.
  • the sleeve is flexible and is used to protect the springs and is removed for cleaning.
  • a snap fastener ball element 56 having a snap fastener ball 58 is mounted on the second end 38 of the gooseneck assembly for a purpose to be discussed below.
  • the strap unit 16 is seen to include an elongate strap element 60 that has a blunt end 62 and a pointed end 64, with fasteners, such as fastener 66, located on that strap element adjacent to the pointed end 64.
  • a plurality of fastener-receiving holes, such as hole 68, are defined through the strap element adjacent to the blunt end 62, and the fasteners 66 being received in various ones of the holes 68 to secure the strap to a container and adjust the size of the strap to fit the size and shape of the container.
  • the strap unit is cinched up around the container to attach that container to the support unit.
  • a snap-fastener ball receiving socket 70 is mounted on a plate 72 affixed to the strap element 60 between the blunt end 62 and the pointed end 64.
  • the snap fastener ball 58 is rotatably received in the ball receiving socket 70 to attach the strap, and the container held therein, to the support assembly gooseneck assembly. The strap unit is released from the gooseneck assembly for cleaning purposes.
  • the infant feeding container unit 14 is best shown in FIG. 5, and attention is now directed to FIG. 5 for the following discussion.
  • the infant feeding container 14 is preferably a baby bottle, but could be any other suitable container.
  • the baby bottle form of the container includes a bottom 74, a top 76 and a cylindrical wall 78 connecting the bottom and the top.
  • An infant feeding element, such as a nipple unit 80, is releasably attached to the bottle top, and the bottle includes a longitudinal centerline 82 extending from the bottom to the top and a transverse centerline 84 extending orthogonally to the longitudinal centerline.
  • the strap unit 16 engages the baby bottle between the transverse centerline 84 and the top 76 so that the bottle is balanced to tip towards the bottom. This tipping effect will be assisted by the weight of fluid contained in the bottle.
  • the bottle further includes a weight assembly 86 in the bottle sidewall 78 for further emphasizing the just-mentioned tipping effect of the bottle.
  • the weight assembly 86 includes a plurality of weight elements, such as ball 88, embedded in the sidewall material. All of the weight elements have different weights so that each weight element has a weight that is different from all other weight elements.
  • the weight elements are positioned in a linear arrangement and are spaced apart from each other a distance that will define a finger-grip portion of the bottle.
  • the weights extend from adjacent to the bottom 74 to adjacent to the transverse centerline where the strap unit engages the bottle. Such placement locates the weights in the bottom half of the bottle whereby the bottom-uprighting action of the bottle is assisted.
  • the bottle will tend to tip into a bottom-down orientation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.
  • the weight elements are arranged so that the heaviest weight element is located adjacent to the bottom 74 and the lightest weight element is located adjacent to the transverse centerline 84, and each weight is lighter than its immediately adjacent superadjacent neighbor. That is, of any two adjacent weight elements, the heavier of the two will be located closer to the bottom 74.
  • the total combined weight of the all of the weight elements is such that the center of gravity of the container is always located below the strap unit 16 no matter how much fluid is contained in that container. This lowering of the center of gravity of the container will further assist in the bottom-down bias of that container when it is attached to the remainder of the assembly.
  • the organization of the weight elements to have the heavier of any two adjacent weight elements located closer to the bottom will maintain the weighted portion of the container beneath the surface of the contents of the container as that contents is dispensed from the container until the container is completely empty.
  • the weights can have various indicia I, such as numbers, letters, figures or the like and can be colored to retain the attention of the infant.
  • the container can include ribs R which spaced apart to correspond to the spacing of the weight elements to further define the gripping portion of the container.
  • FIGS. 6-8 The bottom-down tipping action of the assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 6-8.
  • the bottle is shown in a feeding position in FIG. 6 in which the bottle is inverted with the top 76 is positioned on the bottom so that fluid contained in the bottle can be withdrawn from the nipple unit 80 by an infant.
  • the spring 42 tends to pull the bottle upwardly towards the FIG. 7 intermediate position in a plane parallel to the top surface 30 of the top jaw.
  • This bias by the spring 42 moves the bottle towards and into the FIG. 7 intermediate orientation, from which point, the uprighting bias exerted on the bottle by the weight elements and the location of the strap unit will tend to continue the tipping action of the bottle.
  • the bottle continues to tip upright and moves into the bottom down orientation shown in FIG. 8 due to the weights and the position thereof in the lower portion of the bottle beneath the strap unit.
  • the spring means 50 will tend to twist the bottle about the longitudinal centerline 82 and move it into the proper orientation and works in conjunction with the spring 42 to produce the just-discussed bottle uprighting action.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)

Abstract

An infant feeding assembly includes an infant feeding container that is supported to return to an upright, non-leaking orientation upon being released by the infant. The container is weighted and supported to tip and twist into a bottom-down configuration when released so that fluid from the container will not leak onto the infant or the bedding, floors, car seats or the like.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the general art of dispensing containers, and to the particular field of infant feeding devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The problem of holding and supporting an infant's feeding bottle has been present for many years. Those caring for infants are ever so well aware of the problems associated with holding a baby bottle in position for the baby, and retrieving a dropped bottle if the babY is permitted to hold the bottle himself.
These problems have led to a plethora of baby bottle holders. All such holders have basic criteria that must be fulfilled. Thus, for example, all such holders should support the bottle in a position that is convenient to the babY. The field of baby bottle holders includes much art directed to these problems, and such holders have worked in a somewhat successful manner.
However, these known bottle supporting means still have several drawbacks. In recent times, there has been documentation of infant deaths attributed to liquid spilling from a feeding container onto the infant. Such infants were simply given a bottle, and allowed to feed themselves. The bottles leaked fluid onto the infant after the infant had finished feeding.
Therefore, there is a need for an infant feeding assembly which will substantially eliminate the possibility of spilling fluid onto an infant who has finished feeding from the container and which returns to a non-spilling condition upon being released by the infant.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is a main object of the present invention is to provide an infant feeding assembly which will substantially eliminate the possibility of spilling fluid onto an infant who has finished feeding from the container.
It is another object of the present invention to an infant feeding assembly which will substantially eliminate the possibility of spilling fluid onto an infant who has finished feeding from the container and which returns to a non-spilling condition upon being released by the infant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These, and other, objects are achieved by an infant feeding assembly which includes an infant feeding container that is mounted and weighted to return to a bottom-down orientation spaced from the infant upon being released by that infant. The bottom-down orientation is established no matter how much liquid remains in the container when it is released by the infant.
In this manner, the assembly always moves into a nonspilling, bottom-down orientation whenever the assembly is not in use. This bottom-down orientation essentially eliminates the possibility that liquid will spill onto the infant when the assembly is not in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an infant feeding assembly embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a support unit of the infant feeding assembly.
FIG. 3 is a cutaway side elevational view of a gooseneck assembly of the infant feeding assembly.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a strap unit of the infant feeding assembly.
FIG. 5 is side elevational view of an infant feeding container of the infant feeding assembly.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating the infant feeding assembly in an infant-feeding orientation.
FIG. 7 is a side elevational view illustrating the infant feeding assembly in an intermediate orientation.
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view illustrating the infant feeding assembly in a bottom-down at rest orientation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Shown in FIG. 1 is an infant feeding assembly 10 of the present invention which is adapted to assume a bottom-down orientation upon being released by an infant whereby fluid, such as formula, milk, juice, water or the like, from the container is not likely to spill onto the infant.
By way of orientation, the infant feeding assembly 10 includes a support unit 12 which releasably mounts an infant feeding container 14 to a rail of a crib (not shown in FIG. 1) via a strap unit 16. The support unit 12 is biased to twist and move the container unit into a bottom-down orientation, and the container unit is weighted to co-operate with such bias to move the container into the bottom-down orientation.
The support unit 12 includes a spring-loaded clamp element 20 which is adapted to be releasably mounted on the rail of a crib in which an infant is located. The clamp element 20 includes a top jaw element 22 and a bottom jaw element 24 which are coupled together bY a pivot unit 26 and which are biased into a closed condition by a spring element 28. The top jaw element has a planar upper surface 30 which is located inside the perimeter of the crib when the assembly 10 is in use.
Referring next to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it is seen that the support unit 12 further includes a gooseneck assembly 32 which is elongate and extends from the top jaw element upper surface 30 upward therefrom. The gooseneck assembly therefore includes a longitudinal centerline 34 that extends the length of the assembly from one end 36 thereof to a second end 38 thereof. The gooseneck assembly is releasably mounted on the clamp element top jaw planar upper surface 30 by means of a collar 40.
Referring to FIG. 3, it is seen that the gooseneck assembly 32 includes a first spring element 42 that is a helical spring that has been wound to be biased to resist movement of the gooseneck assembly in a plane parallel to a plane containing the jaw top surface 30. Such bias will move the container 14 in such plane from an infant-feeding location away from that infant. The gooseneck assembly further includes a second spring means 46 that includes a plurality of elongated torsion bars, such as bars 48 and 50 attached to the first spring element 42. These torsion bars are designed and attached to the spring 42 to resist twisting movement of the gooseneck about the longitudinal centerline 34. Thus, if the container assembly 14 is twisted so that the gooseneck assembly twists about the longitudinal centerline 34, the torsion bars tend to re-establish the original orientation of the container.
Thus, when an infant grasps the feeding container and pulls it towards him, the springs 42 and 46 are bent and twisted respectively from their initial position. Such bending and twisting is resisted by the springs 42 and 46 so that as soon as the infant releases the container, that container will tend to return to its initial position under the influence of the springs 42 and 46. Suitable springs and torsion bars can be selected by those skilled in the art based on the teaching of the present disclosure and the general knowledge of springs found in standard textbooks such as "Design of Machine Elements" by V.M. Faires and published by the Macmillan Company in 1955, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, and standard handbooks such as "Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers", Seventh Edition, edited by T. Baumeister and published by McGraw-Hill in 1967, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
A sleeve 52 is formed of plastics-type materials and is slidably fit over the first spring 42 into sliding and releasable engagement with the collar 40 on the clamp element top jaw. The sleeve is flexible and is used to protect the springs and is removed for cleaning.
A snap fastener ball element 56 having a snap fastener ball 58 is mounted on the second end 38 of the gooseneck assembly for a purpose to be discussed below.
Referring next to FIG. 4, the strap unit 16 is seen to include an elongate strap element 60 that has a blunt end 62 and a pointed end 64, with fasteners, such as fastener 66, located on that strap element adjacent to the pointed end 64. A plurality of fastener-receiving holes, such as hole 68, are defined through the strap element adjacent to the blunt end 62, and the fasteners 66 being received in various ones of the holes 68 to secure the strap to a container and adjust the size of the strap to fit the size and shape of the container. The strap unit is cinched up around the container to attach that container to the support unit.
A snap-fastener ball receiving socket 70 is mounted on a plate 72 affixed to the strap element 60 between the blunt end 62 and the pointed end 64. The snap fastener ball 58 is rotatably received in the ball receiving socket 70 to attach the strap, and the container held therein, to the support assembly gooseneck assembly. The strap unit is released from the gooseneck assembly for cleaning purposes.
The infant feeding container unit 14 is best shown in FIG. 5, and attention is now directed to FIG. 5 for the following discussion.
The infant feeding container 14 is preferably a baby bottle, but could be any other suitable container. The baby bottle form of the container includes a bottom 74, a top 76 and a cylindrical wall 78 connecting the bottom and the top. An infant feeding element, such as a nipple unit 80, is releasably attached to the bottle top, and the bottle includes a longitudinal centerline 82 extending from the bottom to the top and a transverse centerline 84 extending orthogonally to the longitudinal centerline.
As shown, the strap unit 16 engages the baby bottle between the transverse centerline 84 and the top 76 so that the bottle is balanced to tip towards the bottom. This tipping effect will be assisted by the weight of fluid contained in the bottle.
The bottle further includes a weight assembly 86 in the bottle sidewall 78 for further emphasizing the just-mentioned tipping effect of the bottle. The weight assembly 86 includes a plurality of weight elements, such as ball 88, embedded in the sidewall material. All of the weight elements have different weights so that each weight element has a weight that is different from all other weight elements. The weight elements are positioned in a linear arrangement and are spaced apart from each other a distance that will define a finger-grip portion of the bottle. The weights extend from adjacent to the bottom 74 to adjacent to the transverse centerline where the strap unit engages the bottle. Such placement locates the weights in the bottom half of the bottle whereby the bottom-uprighting action of the bottle is assisted. Thus, due to the weight distribution of the bottle and the location of the strap unit on that bottle, left alone, the bottle will tend to tip into a bottom-down orientation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.
The weight elements are arranged so that the heaviest weight element is located adjacent to the bottom 74 and the lightest weight element is located adjacent to the transverse centerline 84, and each weight is lighter than its immediately adjacent superadjacent neighbor. That is, of any two adjacent weight elements, the heavier of the two will be located closer to the bottom 74.
The total combined weight of the all of the weight elements is such that the center of gravity of the container is always located below the strap unit 16 no matter how much fluid is contained in that container. This lowering of the center of gravity of the container will further assist in the bottom-down bias of that container when it is attached to the remainder of the assembly. The organization of the weight elements to have the heavier of any two adjacent weight elements located closer to the bottom will maintain the weighted portion of the container beneath the surface of the contents of the container as that contents is dispensed from the container until the container is completely empty.
The weights can have various indicia I, such as numbers, letters, figures or the like and can be colored to retain the attention of the infant. Furthermore, the container can include ribs R which spaced apart to correspond to the spacing of the weight elements to further define the gripping portion of the container.
The bottom-down tipping action of the assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. The bottle is shown in a feeding position in FIG. 6 in which the bottle is inverted with the top 76 is positioned on the bottom so that fluid contained in the bottle can be withdrawn from the nipple unit 80 by an infant. When the infant releases the bottle, the spring 42 tends to pull the bottle upwardly towards the FIG. 7 intermediate position in a plane parallel to the top surface 30 of the top jaw. This bias by the spring 42 moves the bottle towards and into the FIG. 7 intermediate orientation, from which point, the uprighting bias exerted on the bottle by the weight elements and the location of the strap unit will tend to continue the tipping action of the bottle. The bottle continues to tip upright and moves into the bottom down orientation shown in FIG. 8 due to the weights and the position thereof in the lower portion of the bottle beneath the strap unit.
The spring means 50 will tend to twist the bottle about the longitudinal centerline 82 and move it into the proper orientation and works in conjunction with the spring 42 to produce the just-discussed bottle uprighting action.
It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.

Claims (9)

I claim:
1. An infant feeding assembly comprising:
(A) a support unit which includes
(1) a spring-loaded clamp element which is adapted to be releasably mounted on a crib and which includes a top jaw and a bottom jaw which are held together by a pivot element and which are biased into a crib contacting position by a clamp spring
(2) an elongate flexible gooseneck assembly mounted at one end thereof on said top jaw, said gooseneck assembly including
(a) a longitudinal centerline extending from said top jaw,
(b) a first spring element which is mounted at one end thereof on said clamp element top jaw and which is biased to resist movement of said gooseneck assembly in a plane parallel to a plane containing said top jaw, and
(c) a second spring means connected to said first spring element and being biased to resist a twisting movement of said gooseneck assembly about said gooseneck assembly longitudinal centerline,
(3) a snap fastener ball element mounted on a second end of said first spring element, and
(4) a flexible sleeve releasably mounted at one end thereof on said top jaw and releasably containing said first spring and said second spring means;
(B) a strap unit having ends and releasably attached to said gooseneck assembly and including
(1) a plurality of fasteners near one end thereof,
(2) a plurality of fastener-receiving holes defined therethrough near another end thereof,
(3) a snap fastener ball receiving socket located between said strap ends; and
(C) an infant feeding container unit being releasably mounted onto said support unit by said strap unit and which includes
(1) a top adapted to receive a fluid dispensing element releasably mounted thereon,
(2) a bottom,
(3) a sidewall connecting said top to said bottom,
(4) a longitudinal centerline extending between said bottom and said top,
(5) a transverse centerline extending perpendicular to said longitudinal centerline, said strap unit engaging said infant feeding container unit between said transverse centerline and said container, and
(6) a weight assembly in said sidewall and including
(a) a plurality of weight elements, each having a weight which is different from the weight of all other weight elements,
(b) said weight elements being positioned in a linear arrangement and spaced apart from each other along said container sidewall from adjacent to said bottom to adjacent to said transverse centerline,
(c) said weight elements being arranged to have the heaviest weight element located closest to said bottom and the lightest weight located adjacent to said transverse centerline and to have the heavier of any two adjacent weight elements located closer to the bottom than the lighter of said any two adjacent weight elements, and
(d) said weight elements having a total combined weight which lowers a center of gravity of said container unit beneath said transverse centerline.
2. The infant feeding assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said infant feeding container includes a baby bottle, and said container sidewall is cylindrical.
3. The infant feeding assembly defined in claim 2 further including indicia on each weight element.
4. The infant feeding assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said clamp element includes a collar element mounted on said top jaw.
5. The infant feeding assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said flexible sleeve is formed of plastics-type material.
6. The infant feeding assembly defined in claim 5 wherein said weight elements are spaced apart far enough to form a fingergrip pattern on said container sidewall.
7. The infant feeding assembly defined in claim 6 further including a plurality of spaced-apart ribs on said infant feeding container.
8. The infant feeding assembly defined in claim 7 wherein said second spring means includes a plurality of torsion bar elements.
9. The infant feeding assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said first spring element includes a helical spring.
US07/460,245 1990-01-02 1990-01-02 Infant feeding assembly Expired - Fee Related US5016845A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/460,245 US5016845A (en) 1990-01-02 1990-01-02 Infant feeding assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/460,245 US5016845A (en) 1990-01-02 1990-01-02 Infant feeding assembly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5016845A true US5016845A (en) 1991-05-21

Family

ID=23827921

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/460,245 Expired - Fee Related US5016845A (en) 1990-01-02 1990-01-02 Infant feeding assembly

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US5016845A (en)

Cited By (33)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5135189A (en) * 1991-08-16 1992-08-04 Mansoor Ghazizadeh Baby bottle holder
US5192041A (en) * 1991-06-17 1993-03-09 Bryant Sheree M Baby bottle holder
US5208732A (en) * 1991-05-29 1993-05-04 Texas Instruments, Incorporated Memory card with flexible conductor between substrate and metal cover
US5489075A (en) * 1994-07-18 1996-02-06 Ible; Robert L. Baby bottle holder and feeder
US5662406A (en) * 1996-02-06 1997-09-02 Mattice; Johnny M. Lighted baby bottle
US5704495A (en) * 1995-04-04 1998-01-06 Bale; Michael S. Releasable restraining device
US5896880A (en) * 1997-12-24 1999-04-27 Bushweller; Sarah H. Book umbrella
US5971238A (en) * 1997-12-31 1999-10-26 Malvasi; Giuseppe Retractable bottle retaining holder
FR2791877A1 (en) 1999-04-09 2000-10-13 Gen Food Laborotory Ltd BABY SEAT FOR BOTTLES, FOR SELF-CONTAINED BOTTLES FOR INFANTS.
US6250592B1 (en) * 2000-01-21 2001-06-26 Emma A. Davis Adjustable bottle holding apparatus
US20030168561A1 (en) * 2002-01-30 2003-09-11 Ortiz Carlos E. Method and appartus for holding a pacifier
US20030218105A1 (en) * 2002-05-23 2003-11-27 Rolland Sones Baby bottle and accessory holding device
US6793094B2 (en) 2002-10-03 2004-09-21 Mitchell Turnbough Anti-tipping container for liquids and semi-solid foods
US20060023429A1 (en) * 2000-10-17 2006-02-02 Spx Corporation Plug-in module for portable computing device
US7050306B1 (en) * 2000-10-17 2006-05-23 Spx Corporation Plug-in module for portable computing device
WO2007030100A1 (en) * 2005-09-02 2007-03-15 Lori Ballard Baby bottle holder
US20070187560A1 (en) * 2006-02-08 2007-08-16 Prime Tiffany M Stay 'n play children's toy restraint
US20070278274A1 (en) * 2006-05-31 2007-12-06 Chance Dunn CD mounting apparatus for portable electronic device
US20080178480A1 (en) * 2007-01-26 2008-07-31 Keith Inman Hot Razor Attachment
US20090018596A1 (en) * 2007-05-15 2009-01-15 Cvrx, Inc. Baroreflex activation therapy device with pacing cardiac electrical signal detection capability
US20090057257A1 (en) * 2007-09-04 2009-03-05 Pamela Wong Marcus Protective sleeves for containers
US20090152410A1 (en) * 2007-12-18 2009-06-18 Michele Tomico Holding Device for Bottles
US20100053779A1 (en) * 2008-08-29 2010-03-04 Lumens Digital Optics Inc. Digital presenter using gooseneck
US20100163587A1 (en) * 2006-06-16 2010-07-01 Innovative Ways Pty Ltd Device to carry a bottle
US20100288719A1 (en) * 2009-05-13 2010-11-18 Derek Berton Rund Protective bottle sling
WO2011027134A1 (en) * 2009-09-07 2011-03-10 Daniel Sutherland Improved bottle
USD666730S1 (en) * 2010-05-25 2012-09-04 Playtex Products, Llc Securing device for a teether or pacifier
US20120267485A1 (en) * 2011-04-21 2012-10-25 D Angelo Iii Edward Alfred Bottle caddy
US20140138418A1 (en) * 2006-05-31 2014-05-22 Chance Dunn Integrated CD Mounting Apparatus For Portable Electronic Device
USD761623S1 (en) 2015-02-18 2016-07-19 Lifefactory, Inc. Fluid container with protective sleeve
US20180022291A1 (en) * 2016-07-22 2018-01-25 Eagle Fan Car cd slot mount for personal electronic device
US10687619B2 (en) 2016-02-15 2020-06-23 Shmuel Pesahov System for holding a container
US11439262B2 (en) * 2018-09-04 2022-09-13 Jack McCullough Hands-free umbrella handler

Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US504866A (en) * 1893-09-12 Island
US580837A (en) * 1897-04-13 Holder for nursery-bottles
US753683A (en) * 1901-04-23 1904-03-01 Albert S Dixon Nursing appliance.
US773252A (en) * 1903-12-09 1904-10-25 Alice Frank Nursing appliance.
US936293A (en) * 1909-05-03 1909-10-12 Laurence Garfield Black Holder for infants' feeding-bottles.
US1407681A (en) * 1921-04-13 1922-02-21 William H Saunders Nursing-bottle holder
US1554201A (en) * 1924-12-09 1925-09-22 Dalzell Earline Holder for hot-water bottles
US1867992A (en) * 1928-07-09 1932-07-19 Maurice S Sullivan Nursing bottle holder
US2303728A (en) * 1940-08-12 1942-12-01 Drayton Roy Otto Baby bottle retainer
US2412426A (en) * 1946-07-02 1946-12-10 Rayko Michael Nursing bottle holder
US2448189A (en) * 1946-02-15 1948-08-31 Frances M Muench Nursing bottle holder
US3028133A (en) * 1960-05-04 1962-04-03 Kenneth M Craig Baby bottle holder
US3161392A (en) * 1963-04-10 1964-12-15 Kopec Mel Nursing bottle holder
US3425653A (en) * 1967-08-25 1969-02-04 William Rauch Nursing bottle holder
US4062510A (en) * 1976-08-03 1977-12-13 Edward Brochu Nursing bottle holder
US4114847A (en) * 1976-01-22 1978-09-19 Joseph Bogensberger Feeding bottle holder
US4799636A (en) * 1987-08-31 1989-01-24 Johnson William M Automatically positioned holder for baby bottles

Patent Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US504866A (en) * 1893-09-12 Island
US580837A (en) * 1897-04-13 Holder for nursery-bottles
US753683A (en) * 1901-04-23 1904-03-01 Albert S Dixon Nursing appliance.
US773252A (en) * 1903-12-09 1904-10-25 Alice Frank Nursing appliance.
US936293A (en) * 1909-05-03 1909-10-12 Laurence Garfield Black Holder for infants' feeding-bottles.
US1407681A (en) * 1921-04-13 1922-02-21 William H Saunders Nursing-bottle holder
US1554201A (en) * 1924-12-09 1925-09-22 Dalzell Earline Holder for hot-water bottles
US1867992A (en) * 1928-07-09 1932-07-19 Maurice S Sullivan Nursing bottle holder
US2303728A (en) * 1940-08-12 1942-12-01 Drayton Roy Otto Baby bottle retainer
US2448189A (en) * 1946-02-15 1948-08-31 Frances M Muench Nursing bottle holder
US2412426A (en) * 1946-07-02 1946-12-10 Rayko Michael Nursing bottle holder
US3028133A (en) * 1960-05-04 1962-04-03 Kenneth M Craig Baby bottle holder
US3161392A (en) * 1963-04-10 1964-12-15 Kopec Mel Nursing bottle holder
US3425653A (en) * 1967-08-25 1969-02-04 William Rauch Nursing bottle holder
US4114847A (en) * 1976-01-22 1978-09-19 Joseph Bogensberger Feeding bottle holder
US4062510A (en) * 1976-08-03 1977-12-13 Edward Brochu Nursing bottle holder
US4799636A (en) * 1987-08-31 1989-01-24 Johnson William M Automatically positioned holder for baby bottles

Cited By (43)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5208732A (en) * 1991-05-29 1993-05-04 Texas Instruments, Incorporated Memory card with flexible conductor between substrate and metal cover
US5192041A (en) * 1991-06-17 1993-03-09 Bryant Sheree M Baby bottle holder
US5135189A (en) * 1991-08-16 1992-08-04 Mansoor Ghazizadeh Baby bottle holder
US5489075A (en) * 1994-07-18 1996-02-06 Ible; Robert L. Baby bottle holder and feeder
US5704495A (en) * 1995-04-04 1998-01-06 Bale; Michael S. Releasable restraining device
US5662406A (en) * 1996-02-06 1997-09-02 Mattice; Johnny M. Lighted baby bottle
US5896880A (en) * 1997-12-24 1999-04-27 Bushweller; Sarah H. Book umbrella
US5971238A (en) * 1997-12-31 1999-10-26 Malvasi; Giuseppe Retractable bottle retaining holder
FR2791877A1 (en) 1999-04-09 2000-10-13 Gen Food Laborotory Ltd BABY SEAT FOR BOTTLES, FOR SELF-CONTAINED BOTTLES FOR INFANTS.
WO2000061064A1 (en) 1999-04-09 2000-10-19 Genfoodltd Pendulous baby-bottle seat for infants
US6250592B1 (en) * 2000-01-21 2001-06-26 Emma A. Davis Adjustable bottle holding apparatus
US20060023429A1 (en) * 2000-10-17 2006-02-02 Spx Corporation Plug-in module for portable computing device
US7050306B1 (en) * 2000-10-17 2006-05-23 Spx Corporation Plug-in module for portable computing device
US7324346B2 (en) 2000-10-17 2008-01-29 Spx Corporation Plug-in module for portable computing device
US20030168561A1 (en) * 2002-01-30 2003-09-11 Ortiz Carlos E. Method and appartus for holding a pacifier
US20030218105A1 (en) * 2002-05-23 2003-11-27 Rolland Sones Baby bottle and accessory holding device
US6793094B2 (en) 2002-10-03 2004-09-21 Mitchell Turnbough Anti-tipping container for liquids and semi-solid foods
WO2007030100A1 (en) * 2005-09-02 2007-03-15 Lori Ballard Baby bottle holder
US20070187560A1 (en) * 2006-02-08 2007-08-16 Prime Tiffany M Stay 'n play children's toy restraint
US7669818B2 (en) * 2006-02-08 2010-03-02 Prime Tiffany M Stay 'n play children's toy restraint
US20070278274A1 (en) * 2006-05-31 2007-12-06 Chance Dunn CD mounting apparatus for portable electronic device
US20140138418A1 (en) * 2006-05-31 2014-05-22 Chance Dunn Integrated CD Mounting Apparatus For Portable Electronic Device
US8505795B2 (en) * 2006-05-31 2013-08-13 Chance Dunn CD mounting apparatus for portable electronic device
US8240525B2 (en) * 2006-06-16 2012-08-14 Innovative Ways Pty Ltd Device to carry a bottle
US20100163587A1 (en) * 2006-06-16 2010-07-01 Innovative Ways Pty Ltd Device to carry a bottle
US20080178480A1 (en) * 2007-01-26 2008-07-31 Keith Inman Hot Razor Attachment
US20090018596A1 (en) * 2007-05-15 2009-01-15 Cvrx, Inc. Baroreflex activation therapy device with pacing cardiac electrical signal detection capability
US20090057257A1 (en) * 2007-09-04 2009-03-05 Pamela Wong Marcus Protective sleeves for containers
US9266643B2 (en) 2007-09-04 2016-02-23 Lifefactory, Inc. Protective sleeves for containers
US8579133B2 (en) 2007-09-04 2013-11-12 Lifefactory, Inc. Protective sleeves for containers
US20090152410A1 (en) * 2007-12-18 2009-06-18 Michele Tomico Holding Device for Bottles
US20100053779A1 (en) * 2008-08-29 2010-03-04 Lumens Digital Optics Inc. Digital presenter using gooseneck
US20100288719A1 (en) * 2009-05-13 2010-11-18 Derek Berton Rund Protective bottle sling
US8132683B2 (en) 2009-05-13 2012-03-13 Evenflo Company, Inc. Protective bottle sling
WO2011027134A1 (en) * 2009-09-07 2011-03-10 Daniel Sutherland Improved bottle
USD679406S1 (en) 2010-05-25 2013-04-02 Playtex Products, Llc Securing device for a teether or pacifier
USD666730S1 (en) * 2010-05-25 2012-09-04 Playtex Products, Llc Securing device for a teether or pacifier
US20120267485A1 (en) * 2011-04-21 2012-10-25 D Angelo Iii Edward Alfred Bottle caddy
USD761623S1 (en) 2015-02-18 2016-07-19 Lifefactory, Inc. Fluid container with protective sleeve
US10687619B2 (en) 2016-02-15 2020-06-23 Shmuel Pesahov System for holding a container
US20180022291A1 (en) * 2016-07-22 2018-01-25 Eagle Fan Car cd slot mount for personal electronic device
US9889800B1 (en) * 2016-07-22 2018-02-13 Eagle Fan Car CD slot mount for personal electronic device
US11439262B2 (en) * 2018-09-04 2022-09-13 Jack McCullough Hands-free umbrella handler

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5016845A (en) Infant feeding assembly
US5147079A (en) Carrier device for containers
US4063769A (en) Ball retriever
US2520818A (en) Receptacle support
US3499538A (en) Hot dog holder
US6651838B2 (en) Bottle retaining device to aid pouring
US5188413A (en) Bottle carrier assembly
US4217941A (en) Ketchup rapping apparatus
US6098934A (en) Drinking container support apparatus and method for infant feeding
US4765581A (en) Universal cup holder with cup handle slot
US5752687A (en) Cup holder with lid retainer
US2362020A (en) Nursing bottle holder
US5419447A (en) Baby bottle
US2950959A (en) Chemical dispenser
US5265834A (en) Nurser bottle holder
US4359786A (en) Accessory for use in supporting a urinal member at a patient's bedside in hospitals and the like
US2518862A (en) Nursing bottle holder
US6092680A (en) Baby bottle assembly
US5037046A (en) Adjustable baby bottle holder
US8220655B2 (en) Hanging tray for single open beverage
US5081957A (en) Delivering device and affiliated receiving bowl for feeding and watering pets
US7216778B2 (en) Self-leveling drip catcher for fluid containers
US20170333293A1 (en) Handsfree Bottle Support Harness
US2654556A (en) Nursing bottle support
US753683A (en) Nursing appliance.

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 19990521

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362